Frequently Asked Questions About FedEx Duties & Taxes
Who pays FedEx duties and taxes in Canada?
The recipient, unless the sender chooses otherwise. When a shipment is created, the sender picks Bill Recipient, Bill Sender or Bill Third Party for duties and taxes, and if no choice is made, FedEx bills the recipient automatically. Whatever the instructions say, FedEx's terms make the sender ultimately liable for all charges, so a refused shipment can come back to the shipper as a bill. A rebill request must be made within 90 days of the invoice date.
How do I pay FedEx duties online?
FedEx Canada has two online routes. If you do not have an invoice number yet, go to fedex.ca/paynow and pay duties, taxes and related fees with your tracking number. If you have a FedEx invoice, go to fedex.ca/payment and pay with the invoice number, which also covers transportation charges. Both are listed in the Pay Duties and Taxes section of FedEx's duties and taxes page.
Why is my FedEx package held for duties?
Because FedEx can require payment first. FedEx's terms allow it to contact the payor to confirm reimbursement before clearing and delivering a shipment and, at its sole discretion, to require payment of duties and taxes before releasing it. On FedEx Ground, FedEx names who may have to pay at or before delivery: new FedEx Ground customers, customers without a valid account, hotel guests and those with a poor credit history.
What is the FedEx brokerage fee in Canada?
When FedEx pays duties and taxes to customs on your behalf, it charges a disbursement fee for advancing the money: 3.10% of the duty and tax advanced, or $12.00, whichever is greater, since 20 July 2026. The same rate appears for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground. Entries with more than three lines add $5.60 per extra line. These are FedEx's fees, not the government's, and they are separate from the duties and taxes themselves. See the full list in our clearance fees section.
What happens when a FedEx shipment has a clearance delay?
The delivery date moves with it. FedEx's terms add one business day to the delivery commitment for each day, or part of a day, that customs or another regulatory clearance is delayed, on FedEx Express and FedEx Ground alike. Common causes are paperwork and regulated goods: shipments that need documents beyond the air waybill, such as a commercial invoice, may take longer, and so can food, health products, plants and telecom equipment that other government agencies must clear.
Do I pay duties on a FedEx package from the U.S.?
It depends on its value for duty. By courier from the U.S. or Mexico, CBSA charges neither duty nor tax up to $40, tax only from $40.01 to $150, and both above $150. Since 8 September 2026, certain U.S.-origin goods also carry a surtax of 15%, 25% or 50% of value for duty, and CBSA states it applies even below those thresholds. Check CBSA's customs notice for which goods are covered.